Feta Production Feels the Aftershocks of Last Year’s Livestock Crisis

The prolonged outbreak of sheep pox past year is present leaving a visible people connected Greece’s dairy sector, peculiarly its feta industry. The astir important effect has been a driblet successful the volume of sheep’s beverage collected by cheesemakers toward the extremity of 2025—and beyond—resulting successful reduced feta accumulation for the existent season.

According to marketplace sources, this diminution is affecting some export-oriented dairies and companies serving a premix of home and planetary markets. While superior accumulation appears to person stabilized, this year’s export show is not matching the strong levels recorded successful 2025.

Producers serving some home and export markets look a tough balancing act, arsenic contractual obligations and contention bounds their quality to displacement supply abroad. Output is expected to stabilize aft autumn when much livestock enters production, but exports successful 2026 are apt to match—not surpass—last year’s levels.

he anticipated maturation successful exports is acceptable to beryllium lost. Last year, Greece exported a total of 105,000 tonnes of feta, up from 97,000 tonnes successful 2024, retired of a total accumulation of 140,000 tonnes. The United Kingdom and Italy stay cardinal markets, absorbing a combined 28,000 tonnes—12,500 tonnes and 15,500 tonnes respectively.

Recent information underscore the slowdown. In January 2026, the value of feta exports roseate by conscionable 1.6%, reaching 60.6 cardinal euros. Notably, exports to Germany—the starring marketplace for the iconic Greek cheese—fell from 19.1 cardinal euros to 17.2 cardinal euros. The UK besides saw a marked decline, with export values dropping by 9.9% and 7.5% respectively.

By contrast, exports to France, the United States, and Austria posted strong gains—8.7%, 23.9%, and 42.4% respectively—though these increases travel from a comparatively little base.

At the aforesaid time, export prices for feta are under important pressure. The main origin is contention from white cheeses made from cow’s milk, which payment from little accumulation costs and are progressively challenging feta’s presumption successful planetary markets.

Source: tovima.com